Wei-Yin Chen

Another middling arm with a career year helps explain how the O’s were able to run away with the American League East despite a bevy of star injuries that would've sunk just about any team in a normal...

Aside for a slight uptick in his WHIP, Chen's 2013 numbers were nearly a carbon copy of his 2012 season. That accounts for an oblique injury that caused him to miss some time in the middle of the season. Chen had more success with his secondary pitches, particularly his slider and changeup, and less success with his fastball in 2013 despite a slight increase in velocity across most of his pitches. The upcoming season will be a contract year for Chen, and he is a lock to make Baltimore's rotation, while his first two big league campaigns suggest that another year in the neighborhood of a 7.0 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 is likely.

2013

Chen was the only member of Baltimore's rotation to hold down a spot for the whole season and he led the team with 12 wins. Prior to signing with the Orioles, Chen's velocity dropped in 2011. He was able to rebound to an average fastball velocity of 91 mph, which is more in line with his career numbers. Chen's 0.88 GB/FB ratio is cause for concern and supports his 29 home runs allowed. He is a virtual lock for a rotation spot in 2013, but it is believed that Chen's ceiling is not much higher than what his 2012 numbers reflect.

2012

Chen has been one of Japan's better pitchers since 2008 and an out clause in his NPB contract allowed him to move to MLB and sign three-year deal with the Orioles. Chen moved into Chunichi's rotation full time in 2009, and he had his best season with a 1.54 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 146:40 K:BB ratio. He got it done with electric stuff, working primarily off a fastball with movement that touched 96 mph on his best days, and a mid-80's slider with bite. While Chen has remained highly effective in the two years since, he hasn't repeated his dominant 2009 performance, on either the stats sheet or the radar gun. He's maintained very good, but not quite league leading, ERAs and WHIPs. In 2011 his strikeout rate dropped to 5.15 K/9IP, after hovering around 8.00 K/9IP in previous seasons. Stuff-wise, he's remained a fastball/slider pitcher, but his fastball velocity has cooled off, now sitting at 88-90 mph topping out around 93 mph, and his slider doesn't have quite as much movement. Chen turns 27 in June 2012, so he'll enter MLB with some prime baseball years ahead of him. Even if he can't find a way to stick in the Baltimore rotation, he should have enough stuff to succeed in a bullpen role.

2011

Chen is considered one of Japan's best pitchers and a name to watch in case he decides to come to MLB. Chen regressed a little from his breakout 2009 season, but set a career high with 188 IP, and posted solid rates including a 2.87 ERA and a 1.144 WHIP. But beyond numbers, Chen is a 25-year-old left-hander with an electric arm and is a valuable prospect. Chen is Taiwanese and joined Chunichi after high school, but unlike most foreign players in Japan he doesn't have contractual provisions that allow him to become a free agent if he chooses and is subject to the more restrictive rules governing drafted Japanese players. Chen and his representation are trying to negotiate an opt-out clause into his contract. If they are successful, we'll probably see him in MLB soon. If not, he is still about six years away from free agency.

2010

Chen has emerged as one of the best pitchers in Japan and is a name to watch in case he decides to move to the U.S. The 23-year-old lefty broke out in a big way in 2009, posting a 1.54 ERA in 164 innings. Chen is a rare power lefty, featuring a mid-90s fastball and a hard slider. He is a long way from having the service time he needs for NPB free agency, but his status as a foreign player may allow him to test the MLB market sooner.